The Washington Post reported Monday that an internal investigation by a law firm hired by the animal rights nonprofit found three complaints of sexual harassment against the CEO, including one from a former employee who said that in 2006 Pacelle asked if he could masturbate in front of her. The investigation also found that the organization had offered settlements to three other employees who said they were “demoted or dismissed” after reporting accusations about Pacelle’s behavior.

Pacelle has denied the allegations: “This is a coordinated attempt to attack me and the organization,” he told the Post on Monday. “I absolutely deny any suggestion that I did anything untoward.”

Today, the Humane Society of the United States accepted the resignation of President and CEO, Wayne Pacelle. Read more: https://t.co/e0tGRGlJKj

The HSUS announced Friday that Kitty Block, current president of the group’s global affiliate Humane Society International, would be stepping in as acting president and chief executive.

Pacelle had been CEO of the Humane Society of the United States since 2004 and previously spent 10 years as its chief political and communications operative.

On Friday, Pacelle sent an email to staff announcing his resignation, saying that “our mission depends on unity” and that he was stepping down so a search for his replacement could move forward “expeditiously” and without “distractions,” according to the Times.

When it comes to sexual harassment in the workplace many picture the blatant sexism of the "Mad Men" era, however, workplace harassment (sadly) comes in all forms. From an unwelcome sexual comment to inappropriate physical touching, sexual harassment should be reported every time, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/27/workplace-sexual-harassment-poll_n_3823671.html" target="_blank">yet it's not always so easy for victims to speak up</a>.
With allegations of sexual assault spanning various workplaces -- including (but not limited to)<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/17/terry-richardson-sexual-harassment-anna-del-gaizo_n_5501175.html" target="_blank"> the fashion industry</a> and<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/03/tinder-whitney-wolfe-sexual-harassment-lawsuit_n_5555660.html?utm_hp_ref=technology&ir=Technology" target="_blank"> tech startups </a>-- it's no surprise that workplace harassment is still common, even when it's not making front page news.
In 2011, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission <a href="http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/legal-resources/know-your-rights-at-work/workplace-sexual-harassment/" target="_blank">received 11,364 complaints of sexual harassment</a>, 84 percent of which were filed by women and 16 percent by men. <a href="http://www.aauw.org/what-we-do/legal-resources/know-your-rights-at-work/workplace-sexual-harassment/" target="_blank">The American Association of University Women also reported that a telephone poll of 782 U.S. workers revealed </a>that of the 38 percent of workers who said they had been sexually harassed, less than half reported their harassment.
<strong>Inspired by our friends over at <a href="http://jezebel.com/women-post-awful-tales-of-workplace-harassment-on-secre-1601929462" target="_blank">Jezebel</a>, we rounded up 11 testimonies found on the anonymous message-sharing app <a href="http://whisper.sh/stories/" target="_blank">Whisper</a> that speak to the bravery required to report their harassers, but also the relief they feel once they do.</strong>